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Detroit Sends Isaiah Stewart to Memphis for Three Picks

6/26/2026

Summary

Stewart Traded

Detroit Pistons traded center Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks.
Stewart, the 2020 16th-overall pick, averaged 10 points, five rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 2025-26 and has a $30 million guarantee plus a $15 million option for 2027-28.
The trade clears his salary, gives Detroit flexibility and adds a frontcourt piece to Memphis’s young core of Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez and Zach Edey.

Summary

Paul Reed Backup

Paul Reed will serve as Detroit’s primary backup center after the trade, earning $5.6 million for the upcoming season.
Reed posted 7.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in nine playoff games, surpassing Stewart’s limited contributions.
The deal created a $15 million trade exception for the Pistons, giving them future salary-absorption flexibility.
With Jalen Duren as starter and Reed as the cheaper reserve, Detroit’s center depth now relies on two players instead of three.

Summary

Stewart Pivot

Detroit cleared Jaden Stewart’s $15 million salary to target Austin Reaves.
Pistons opened talks with Milwaukee to acquire Tyler Herro.
Coach Tuomas Iisalo’s rotation uses short bursts, making Stewart vital for Zach Edey.
Memphis markets Stewart as bridge linking 2026 picks Cameron Boozer (No. 3) and Karim Lopez (No. 21) to a “Grit n Grind 2.0” identity.
Trade returned three second-round picks (2029, 2031, 2032) to Detroit.

History

Historical Context

Since the NBA reinstated a $4.6 million salary cap in 1984-85, the league has relied on cap exceptions to shape trades. The 1999 collective bargaining agreement, which kept cap rules steady, let Detroit trade Grant Hill for assets and a trade exception—a flexibility the Pistons used in 2024 to clear Isaiah Stewart’s $30 million guarantee. This continuity shows how early cap reforms still drive roster decisions.

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Stewart Traded

Detroit Pistons traded center Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three future second-round picks.
Stewart, the 2020 16th-overall pick, averaged 10 points, five rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 2025-26 and has a $30 million guarantee plus a $15 million option for 2027-28.
The trade clears his salary, gives Detroit flexibility and adds a frontcourt piece to Memphis’s young core of Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez and Zach Edey.

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